Coffee Pod Including Inner Frame

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a pod constructed by inserting a functional frame between two sheets of packaging means such that it can keep various kinds of contents (material to be extracted) by a simple packaging method, and the contents  30  can be easily extracted, and a three dimensional shape of the pod is constructed by joining upper and lower portions of side margin defined by the inserted frame, and the extraction of the contents can be easily reproduced every time by using an extraction device having a cavity whose inner shape conforms to the outer shape of the pod.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a coffee pod in which contents arepackaged between two sheets of packaging means, and more particularly,to an inner frame inserted into the coffee pod and a method of openingthe pod and extracting the contents.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a pod for hermetically packaging anintended content (material to be extracted) between two sheets ofpackaging means together with a functional structure.

It has been generalized that unitary amount of drinkable coffee ishermetically sealed into and extracted simply from a disposablepackaging means. For instance, a packaging method with a pod shape isused because the packaging is available at low cost and the use isrelatively simple.

The unitary amount of ground coffee is packed as a simple round-shapedpod into a filter paper sheet, and it is widely put on the market.However, due to excessive simplicity and flexibility of a coffee podhaving the coffee contained therein, it was difficult to construct theextraction system using a conventional pod, to mechanize and automatizethe extraction system, and reproduce the manufacturing process.

To solve problems described above, the present inventor has filed aKorean patent application No. 10-2005-0027007 entitled “A mechanicallyinterfaceably transformed coffee pod including O-ring, a brewing methodthereof, and an apparatus for brewing the same”, in which an O-ring wasdescribed in the specification, and was registered as a Korean patentNo. 0561707.

DISCLOSURE

The present invention constructs the pod 10 with an inner frame 20 (thisis a basic functional frame, but will be totally called “frame”)accommodated in a packaging means 12 along with the contents 30, and isdirected to the opening and brewing of the pod 10.

The pod 10 of the present invention is a product, which is made bypackaging the contents 30 including soluble material to be extracted,such as roasted or ground coffee, etc., (the contents 30 will behereinafter described with respect to the coffee, the roasted coffeebean or the ground coffee is regarded as identical), and it is apackaged form made by packaging a pod encircled by the packaging means12 in a single unit, or it is made by connecting at least one or morepods 10 with one another into “n” pieces.

Hereinafter, the extraction method and the extraction process of thepresent invention will be described, in which the pod 10 is opened bymeans of an opening means which will be described later, and anidentical result is achieved every time by the extraction mechanism ofan extraction means which will be described later.

The pod 10 of the present invention is intended to pack, keep, transportand drink the foods, which can be extracted or reduced by means ofheated water or vaporized water.

In view of the dictionary meaning, a pod refers to a shell or legume ofthe peanut and the like. The pod 10 of the present invention includes ashape in which the content 30 is wrapped by two packaging means 12, anda combination of the function and roll produced from the above shape.The above pod 10 is opened by means of the opening means and brewed bymeans of the extracting means. The extracting means 90 comprises anexclusive cavity 91 (hereinafter, may be called “exclusive extractiondevice or cavity”, all of which are used as the same meaning) and anopening means attached to the cavity.

The packaging means 12 (basic constituting element of the pod) is madeof a thin film with flexible property, which has an isolation feature oflow permeability to oxygen or fluid and low elongation.

The contents 30 are filled in the frame 20, and the frame 20 filled withthe contents 30 is hermetically sealed by the packaging means 12.

Functional Frame Hermetically Sealed by the Packaging Means:

The pod packaged by means of the packaging means 12 can be transformedinto any shape from the initial form and shape by means of a physicalforce exerted from the outside during the transportation or the keepingthereof.

The outer shape and/or dimensional stability of the pod is veryimportant in allowing a cavity 91 to be kept in a tightly sealed stateagainst the outside when brewing the pod contained in the cavity 91having a fixed shape and size.

Incompatibility of “inner shape of the cavity” with “outer shape of thepod” can be a factor causing a very serious problem such as a failure inreproduction of the identical opening and extracting process at everyturn because of the leakage of the contents 30 to the outside throughthe clearance defined between the cavity and the pod.

The outer shape of the pod 10 including the size and height, etc.,thereof should be always identical to conform to the inner shape of thefixed cavity 91 so as to reproduce the identical opening and extractingresults at every turn, so that the pod is completely received in thecavity 91 to be hermetically sealed from the outside.

In order to uniformly maintain the shape of the pod 10, especially, theheight and the outer dimension (hereinafter, the height and the outerdimension of the pod will be referred to as “standard”), it is requiredto insert a frame 20 having a desired function into the packaging means12 as a support means for supporting the outer shape of the pod 10, tothereby achieve the pod 10 having a dimensional stability of apredetermined standard.

As used herein, the term “frame 20” refers to a functional structureinserted into the packaging means 12 for supporting the pod 10 from theinside. Examples of the terms having a meaning similar thereto include aframe, a mechanism, mold, matrix, a framework, a rib and the like.

A shape made by shearing the side of the frame 20 (side cut section 25)has a cross section with a predetermined height and width. The front andrear surfaces of the cross section, which has a uniform height and isextended in the longitudinal direction with respect to the center of thesurface, are connected to each other to thereby extend in all directionsincluding the forward and rearward, leftward and rightward, except forthe upward and downward directions, resulting in the formation of ahexahedron.

The hexahedron provide a three dimensional space with upper and lowerside opened, which is produced by being encircled by a predeterminedheight with respect to the center point. The three dimensional space isfilled with the intended contents 30. The frame 20 is inserted into thepod 10 so that it can perform the following functions.

-   -   the frame 20 functions to support the pod so that the shape of        the pod 10 is not pressed or transformed by the outer physical        force.    -   the formality of the frame 20 enables the opening means 12 to be        positioned accurately at the open position.    -   the formality of the frame 20 provides a function of maintaining        a predetermined height and size of the pod so that the packaging        means 12 can be tensely attached to a mouth lip 27 and the        opening means can be inserted into the pod 10 at an accurate        depth.

The height and size of the frame 20 is constructed to conform to thecapacity of the contents 30 required. The plane shape 23 (plan view) ofthe frame 20 can be formed diversely according to the specific cavity 91in which the pod will be received, or features required for the pod 10.In this regard, the frame 20 can be formed in a polygonal shapeincluding a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, anoctagon, in addition to a round shape including an elliptical shape, andit can be formed in pentagonal star shape, hexagonal star shape,octagonal star shape, and a star shape having more than eight angles.

The concrete examples of the functional frame 20 shown in the planarspread shape 23 can include as follows.

-   -   circle [FIG. 2 a];    -   oval [FIG. 2 b], [FIG. 2 e]    -   equilateral triangle or right triangle including an        non-equilateral side [FIG. 2 c];    -   square including regular square, rectangle, non-equilateral        square, and frusto-square [FIG. 2 d], [FIG. 2 f], [FIG. 2 g];    -   symmetrical and asymmetric pentagon [FIG. 2 h], [FIG. 2 i],        [FIG. 2 j];    -   symmetrical and asymmetric hexagon [FIG. 2 k], and heptagon;    -   symmetrical and asymmetric polygon including at least eight        angles [FIG. 2 l];    -   symmetrical and asymmetric pentagonal star shape [FIG. 2 j];    -   symmetrical and asymmetric hexagonal star shape;    -   symmetrical and asymmetric star shape including at least eight        angles [FIG. 2 l], and the like.

The exemplified shapes of the frame 20 as above enumerated can all bethe planar spread shape 23 applicable to the pod 10 of the presentinvention. It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art thatthe shape of the frame 20 includes the above indicated examples and anyparticular shape can be applied to the pod 10 of the present invention.

The frame 20 having the planar spread shape 23 can exhibit a moreexpanded performance by diversifying the shape of the side cut section25, and it is very important in performing the intended object.

The side cut sections 25 should be diversified with respect to thecenter axis of the frame 20 based on the following reasons:

-   -   as the frame 20 is more closely contacted with the inner wall of        the cavity 91 by the outer shape of the frame 20 corresponding        to the inner shape of the cavity 91 to thereby strengthen a        sealibility, and    -   as the suppression for a distortion of the pod 10 shape, which        is caused by the pressure of the heating water injected into the        inside of the frame 20 at the time of extraction, the pressure        reaching about 20 bar, can be maintained and strengthened.

The frame 20 is equipped with functions which can cope with diverserequirements such as maintaining the outer appearance of the pod and thelike, in addition to the functions included in the above disclosures.

With respect to the shape of the side cut section 25, it can bediversely constructed in the shape of circle, square, pentagon, hexagon,octagon, and the like with respect to the center axis of the frame 20.

The concrete examples of the frame 20 with diverse side cut section 25can include as follow:

-   -   round shape including oval [FIG. 3 a], [FIG. 3 b];    -   several hemispherical shapes        ,        [FIG. 3 c],    -   triangle        [FIG. 3 d];    -   square, rectangle, trapezoid, square including an asymmetric        square (convex parenthesis type [[]], convex parenthesis type        [][], and the like ] [FIG. 3 e], [FIG. 3 f], [FIG. 3 j];    -   left and right turned frusto-conical shape [FIG. 3 j];    -   shapes including at least five angles containing asymmetric side        [FIG. 3 g], [FIG. 3 h], [FIG. 3 k], and [FIG. 3 l];    -   shape similar to the upper-case letter “E” and its modified        shape (Ψ), (        ∈);    -   modification of [FIG. 3 j] among letter shapes of Hangeul vowels        and        .

The frame 20 with such various shapes of the side cut section 25 asmentioned above can define more tightly sealed circumstance to therebyenable the extracting device to perform the complete extraction withoutany leakage in the extracting device having diverse shapes of the cavity91 as mentioned above.

The frame 20 of diverse shapes provides an advantage of easilydeveloping the extracting device with diversely shaped cavity 91according to the individual purpose and use to thereby mass produce it.

In brief, the flexible pod 10 is transformed into a hard threedimensional cubic shaped packaging article by sealingly wrapping theouter appearance of the frame 20 with the packaging means 12. The pod 10can be standardized according to the volume, height and shape of theinserted frame 20.

Accordingly, the frame 20 having diverse shapes can provide a completelysealed circumstance without any leakage in the extracting device withdiverse shapes of the cavity 91, which corresponds to the shapes of theframe 20, to enable the more complete extraction and vice versa.

Material and Size of the Frame:

The frame 20 is made of a material such as plastic or elastomericpolymer having a physical strength and elasticity, which enable theextraction process to be progressed normally even when the pod is openedor compressed.

The concrete explanation of the plastic/polymer with the physicalstrength and elasticity required for the material of the frame 20 andused for packaging the foods, is omitted because they are widely put onthe market.

The size and volume of the pod 10 can vary depending on those of thecontents 30 to be contained.

The height of the frame 20 can be set to be 2 to 50 mm, preferably 5 to20 mm, according to the volume of based on the capacity the contents 30to be filled, and the width (diameter) of the frame 20 is set freely tobe 10 to 100 mm according to the feature of the contents 30 to befilled. Also, the frame 20 is set in thickness to have the physicalstrength enough to endure a pressure of about 20 bar transferred fromthe extraction device, that is, it is set to be in the range of 0.5˜10mm according to its material.

Side Margin:

The side margin 51 refers to a portion produced through a process inwhich the upper and lower portions are adhered to each other into onelayer by allowing the packaging means 12 to wrap the frame 20 and to beextended laterally. The side margin 51 is, as shown in FIG. 1, operatedto sealingly wrap the frame 20 by strongly joining the side portions ofthe mouth lip 27 and the frame 20 to each other by means of thepackaging means 12 a, 12 b.

By the joining of the upper and lower portions of the side margin 51,the frame 20 is made to be projected in three dimensions to thereby formthe shape of the pod 10.

Interaction Between the Packaging Means and the Frame:

Hereinafter, the construction and operation of the pod 10 of the presentinvention constructed by the packaging means 12, the frame 20, and theside margin 51 and the like will be described below in detail asfollows:

-   -   the frame 20 is inserted between the packaging means 12;    -   the side margin 51 is produced by adhering the upper and lower        portions of the packaging means 12 a and 12 b extended to the        side of the frame 20;    -   the side margin 51 functions to maintain the inside of the        packaging means 12 in a tightly sealed state;    -   the side margin 51 is operated to further project the center        portion to thereby form the shape of the pod 10 in three        dimension;    -   the space formed by the frame 20 is proper to receive the        content 30, which is a material to be extracted;    -   the packaging means 12 is formed of a composite material        including flexible plastic or metal having a low permeability to        fluid;    -   the content 30 contained in the pod 10 of the present invention        is adapted to be extracted by means of the extracting device        corresponding thereto.

The frame 20 functions to encircle the whole surfaces of the podincluding 360 degree orientations of the forward and rearward, leftwardand rightward directions except for the upward and downward directions.The packaging means 12 encircle the whole frame 20 so that it canachieve the complete packaging of the six sides in three dimension ofthe pod, although the pod 10 has a simple shape.

While the packaging means 12 was weak because it was not structurallysupported upwardly and downwardly and was a two-dimensional plane shape,it becomes a three-dimensional safe physical joining shape by combiningwith the frame 20 in the forward and rearward, leftward and rightward,and upward and downward directions, to thereby construct the pod 10reinforced further in all directions.

The Opening and Extraction Mechanism of the Pod:

One of methods of brewing the pod 10 of the present invention is toaccommodate the pod 10 in the conventional closed-type cavity(hereinafter, referred to as “closed cavity” 91 b), and hermeticallyseal the accommodated pod 10 entirely to thereby brew the pod.

Another method of brewing the pod is to hermetically seal only the innerportion of the frame 20 filled with the contents 30 to thereby brew thepod by using an opened-type cavity (hereinafter, referred to as “openedcavity 91 a”), which is the function of the frame 20 constructing thecharacteristic of the pod 10 of the present invention,

As shown in FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 5 a and 5 b, an orifice 93 is formed on theextracting means 90 in such a manner as to be arranged in upper andlower portions of the inside of the cavity 91 included in the extractingmeans 90.

At first, the characteristics of the closed cavity 91 b and the methodof hermetically sealing the pod by using it will be described. As shownin FIG. 4 a, a “U”-shaped mold is disposed at the lower side of theclosed cavity 91 b, and another inverted “U”-shaped mold is disposed toface the mold, so that they are joined to each other to thereby definethe inside space of the cavity. As shown in FIG. 4 b, the above twomolds accommodate the whole pod 10 including the side margin 51, andboth ends thereof are joined to each other to thereby hermetically sealthe cavity 91.

The opening means include the orifice 93 formed in the extracting means90, and the orifice 93 is formed in the shape of a needle or a pipe sothat it is projected to the outside. As a result, the pod can be openedby precisely perforating the packaging means 12 while aiming at theinside of the frame 20.

The packaging means 12 is tightly installed at the upper and lower mouthlips 27 of the frame 20 (uppermost and lowermost projecting portions ofthe frame 20, contacting with the packaging means 12) to support the pod10 from the inside. When the orifice 93 is aimed at the inside of themouth lips 27, it can be accurately inserted into the packaging means 12tightly tensioned by the supporting force of the frame 20 to apredetermined depth and size so that precise opening process can bereproduced every time.

Hereinafter, the opened cavity 91 a which is another means for brewingthe pod 10 of the present invention and the hermetical sealing mechanismusing the same, will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 5 b, the opened cavity 91 a is constructed of twopieces of planar cavities with its side opened. As shown in FIGS. 5 band 6, when the opened cavity 91 a presses the mouth lip 27 of the frame20, the inside of the frame 20 is hermetically sealed by the supportforce thereof. Dissimilarly to the closed cavity 91 b, whichaccommodates the whole pod 10, the opened cavity 91 a is characterizedby hermetically sealing (intercepting or closing) only the inside of theframe 20, especially, a portion filled with the contents 30, to therebyprogress the opening and extracting process.

With regard to above described two different types of cavities 91,except for a difference of the sealing method, the extracting mechanismsof the two type cavities are identically performed by means of theirintrinsic function and means.

Since the packaging means 12 is adhered to the mouth lip 27 tightly, itis possible to insert the orifice 93 accurately by an intended depth andsize to thereby open the pod precisely, so that the opening process canbe reproduced without any error every time.

The opening of the pod 10 is initiated when the pod 10 is received inthe cavity 91 and then the cavity is closed, and the opening isaccomplished when the cavity 91 is hermetically sealed from the outside.As the pod 10 is supported at the upper and lower surfaces thereof bythe planar cavity 91, and is supported at the side surface thereof bythe frame 20, so that the frame 20 can be isolated from the outside.

When the pod 10 is opened by the penetration of the orifice 93, theorifice 93 at the upper cavity 91 becomes a passageway for forciblyinjecting the heated water supplied from the boiler installed at theextracting device, and the orifice 93 at the lower cavity 91 becomespassageway for discharging the extracted solution, which is connectedwith the extraction exit 95.

When the heated water is injected into the pod 10 opened by the orifice93, the contents 30 are extracted so that it can be discharged to theoutside through the extraction exit 95.

As shown in the attached drawings, the pod 10 of the present inventioncan be received in the opened cavity 91 a by using the feature of theframe 20, and can be completely extracted from the opened cavity 91 a.FIG. 6 shows the frame 20 cut from the side, which was received in theopened cavity 91 a, more concretely in an enlarged state.

Also, only the pod 10 with the frame 20 of the present inventioninserted can be completely brewed from the opened cavity 91 a. As aresult, it has been proved that it is possible to brew the pod 10 fromthe opened cavity 91 a, which is simpler in the structure, contrary tothe conventional concept that the pod could be only extracted from theclosed cavity.

As described above, the closed cavity is different from the openedcavity in that while the closed cavity 91 b receive the whole pod 10including the side margin, the opened cavity 91 a presses the mouth lip27 of the frame 20 to thereby hermetically seal only the inside of theframe 20.

Extraction Using the Mechanically Interfaceable Means;

As described in the previous application filed by the same inventor, themechanically interfaceable means can be provided at the side margin 51.Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the effect of automaticextracting function by using the “mechanically interfaceable means” andcontrolling it mechanically.

With regard to the functions and actions required for the automaticextraction, it requires a transporting mechanism for moving the pod 10and controlling the position thereof, an opening means and an openingmechanism, and an extraction mechanism for extracting the contents 30.Detailed description about their processes is omitted because they weredescribed in the specification filed previously.

As described in the specification, the pod 10 in which the frame 20 ofthe present invention is inserted can be formed to be close contactedcorrespondingly with the cavity 91 having an arbitrary shape, so that itis possible to design a cavity 91 having diverse inner shapes. Also, incase where the pod 10 is used, following advantages can be achieved:

-   -   Various contents 30 can be packaged simply at low cost;    -   It is possible to preserve and transport the pod 10 for a long        time period without any additional outer package;    -   It is possible to design the extracting device with various        functions;    -   It is possible to open the pod 10 mechanically even without        opening the pod manually every time, so that all the extracting        processes can be mechanized.

Therefore, the manufacturing, keeping, transportation, use, extraction,and disposal of the pod 10 and the extracting device of the presentinvention are made remarkably simple and at low cost.

The pod 10 of the present invention includes an opening means of thecontents 30 filled in the frame 20, and the application of the abovefunctions.

As described above, the packaging method is simple, and it is possibleto reproduce the identical process every time in keeping,transportation, opening, extraction, and disposal of it.

Thus, it is possible to provide a very expedient system in thepackaging, transportation, opening, extraction, and disposal of the podby employing the above functions of the pod 10 by using the functions ofthe pod. Accordingly, it becomes possible to maintain the surroundingcircumstances of the extracting device soundly and sanitarily.

The pod 10 of the present invention made by improving the constructiondescribed previously in the fore-mentioned application produces asynergy effect by combining the two inventions to effect a furtherenlarged functions. In other words, the pod 10 including the functionalframe 20 of the present invention, which is achieved by enlarging thefunctions of the mechanically interfaceably transformed pod 10 of theprior application, is a continuous invention of the prior application,and increases completeness in the use of the pod 10 by combining thecharacteristics of the two inventions.

Materials to be Packaged in the Pod:

Extractable or reducible materials which is soluble in water can bepackaged in the pod 10.

An example of the foods includes, especially, roasted coffee bean, andthe pod is appropriate for the extraction thereof. The coffee, which isone of the contents 30 to be packaged in the pod 10, is used afterroasting the green bean, ground it into a size conforming to the featureof an intended beverage, and then packaging it.

With regard to the contents 30 to be packaged in the pod 10, asdescribed above, the ground coffee can be packaged in the pod 10 whichwill be in turn used as a coffee pod 10. Meanwhile, in addition to this,soluble coffee, beverage mixed with the coffee, tea, herb, chocolate,edible materials made by dewatering or concentration, wheat flour,substitute foods, milk, soft milk, dry milk, milk substituting foods andthe like can be packaged in the pod 10 for use.

In addition, it should be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious materials such as functional materials with arbitrary purposeare packaged in the pod 10, and are used in a circumstance where theuser can acknowledge it as beverage and easily access it with usual mindas is for the daily necessaries.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the pod having an inner frame of the present invention, itis advantageous that various materials to be extracted can be simplypackaged to thereby provide substantial convenience in thetransportation, storage, and use of the contents.

According to the pod of the present invention, it is possible tomanufacture the extracting device with a cavity shaped diversely due todiverse shapes of the inserted frame. Also, it is possible to design thepod which can endure the maximum pressure by using a minimum amount ofmaterials because the shape of the side cut section of the frame isdiversified and optimized.

Furthermore, it is simpler to manufacture the opened cavity, which isone feature of the present invention, rather than the closed cavity.Also, in the opening and the extraction of the pod, the extraction canbe accomplished very simply and precisely by using the function of theframe to thereby make it easy to design and produce the extractingdevice.

Also, those skilled in the art will easily appreciate that theextraction system using the pod of the present invention can be appliedconveniently to the household, the official use, and the automatic salemachine, and can be modified and changed for various uses.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pod 10, in which a frame (as an O-ring)20 is inserted between two sheets of packaging means 12;

FIG. 2 shows planar spread shape of several type of frames;

FIG. 3 shows side cut section of several type of frames;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a vacant status of closed cavity 91 b, a cavity91 b filled with a pod 10, a cavity with orifices 93 installed at upperand lower portions thereof.

FIGS. 5 a and 4 b show a vacant status of open cavity 91 a, a cavity 91a filled with a pod 10, a cavity with orifices 93 installed at upper andlower portions thereof.

FIG. 6 show enlarge view of a cavity filled with a pod 10, insertedframe 20, mouth lip 27 and side cut sections thereof.

<Brief Explanations on the principal elements of the Drawing> 10: pod12: packaging means(12a, 12b) 20: frame 23: in planer spread shape 25:side cut section 27: mouth lip 30: contents 50: mechanicallyinterfaceable means 51: side margin 53: through-hole 55: shear line 57:cut line 70: transportation means 71: hook 73: slide 75: rotary shaft90: extraction portion/extracting means 91: cavity 93: orifice 95:extraction exit

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, the opening and extraction mechanism of the pod 10according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will behereinafter described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

Embodiment 1

When the pod 10 is progressively extracted, the opening step isperformed as follows:

-   -   primary transportation step: as shown in FIG. 4 b, the pod 10 is        received in the cavity 91.    -   secondary loading step: the pod 10 is accommodated in the inside        of the cavity 91 and the cavity is engagedly closed.    -   tertiary perforating (opening) step: as shown in FIG. 4 b, the        cavity 91 is closed so that it is isolated from the outside to        thereby define a water-tightly sealed circumstance and        concurrently the pod 10 is penetrated to be opened by means of        the orifice 93.    -   quaternary extraction step: the heated water supplied from the        device is injected into the pod 10 through the orifices 93, and        the extraction solution flowed out from the contents 30 due to        the heated water is, as shown in FIG. 4 b, discharged to the        outside through the orifice 93 and then the extraction exit 95.

Embodiment 2

When the pod 10 is extracted from the opened cavity 91, the opening stepis performed as follows:

-   -   primary transportation step: as shown in FIG. 5 b, the pod 10 is        received in the cavity 91.    -   secondary loading step: the pod 10 is accommodated in the inside        of the cavity 91 to be held in place and the cavity is        compressed while being engaged with the mouth lips 27 to the        maximum.    -   tertiary perforation (opening) step: as shown in FIG. 5 b, when        the cavity 91 presses the mouth lip 27 of the frame 20, the        inside of the frame 20 is isolated from the outside to thereby        define a water-tightly sealed circumstance and concurrently the        packaging means 12 is penetrated to be opened by means of the        orifice 93.    -   quaternary extraction step: as shown in FIG. 5 b, the heated        water supplied from the device is injected into the pod 10        through the orifice 93, and the extraction solution flowed out        from the contents 30 due to the heated water is discharged to        the outside through the orifice 93 located at the lower portion        and then the extraction exit 95.

Embodiment 3

In case where the pod 10 of the present invention is continuouslyextracted by using an automatic extracting device together with thefunctions described in the previously filed specification, theextracting step is performed as follows irrespective of the kind of thecavity:

-   -   primary waiting step: the extraction instruction is awaited at        the initial state in which several pods 10 are arranged to wait        for in sequence;    -   secondary cut step: if the extraction instruction is received, a        shear line is cut between the first pod 10 and the second pod 10        among the plurality of pods 10 waiting in a state arranged in        parallel, so that the pod 10 can be transported to the        extraction portion 90;    -   tertiary transportation step: the transportation mechanism is        transported to an accurate extraction position along the slide        or the rotary shaft and is held in position together with the        engagement opening of the pod 10 being engaged with the hook,        while counting the number of the sensed openings by means of the        mechanically interfaceable means positioned at the side margin        51 of the pod 10, especially by the sensing mechanism.    -   quaternary loading step: the transportation and loading steps of        the embodiment 1 are performed.    -   quinary perforation (opening) step: the perforation (opening)        step of embodiment 1 is performed. As shown in FIG. 4 b, the        cavity 91 is closed so that it is isolated from the outside to        thereby define a water-tightly sealed circumstance and        concurrently the pod 10 is penetrated to be opened by means of        the orifice 93.    -   senary extraction step: the pod 10 is positioned at the        extraction means 90 and then heated water is injected into the        cavity 91. The contents 30 is solved and brewed instantaneously        by the heated water injected into the inside of the pod 10        through the orifice 93, and is flowed out to the outside through        the extraction exit 95 disposed at the lower of the cavity 91 to        be collected in the external cup, and the like;    -   seventh disposal step: the pod 10 maintains its packaging shape        of the initial pod 10 with minimum extraction remainders,        especially, coffee ground residue, and it is removed simply by        moving the pod 10 from the cavity 91 to the disposal position,        to thereby make it possible to maintain the sanitation around        the extracting device;    -   septenary initialization (original position-reset) and waiting        step: all the extraction processes are completed and then the        program returns to the initial step of the first waiting step,        and wait for next instruction.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, present invention is interconnected with thepreviously filed application, and is an improvement of the previouslyfiled invention.

Thus, the pod 10 inserted with the frame 20 of the present invention,can be made into tight contact correspondingly with the cavity 91 havingan arbitrary shape, so that it is possible to design the cavity 91having diverse inner shapes.

Furthermore, if the pod 10 is used, following effects will be achieved.

It is possible to package diverse contents 30 simply at low cost, tokeep and transport the pod 10 for a long time period without applyingany additional outer package, to design the extracting device withversatile capacities, and to automatically open the pod mechanicallyeven without opening manually every time, so that entire extractionprocesses can be automatized, resulting in remarkable simplicity of useand reduction in manufacturing cost in the manufacturing, keeping andtransportation, use and extraction, and disposal of the extractingdevice associated with the pod 10 of the present invention.

Also, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art thatdiverse materials can be packaged in the pod 10, and it can be diverselymodified for use.

1. A pod for packaging contents such as foods, coffee, herbs and thelike, which comprises: a packaging means for encircling the contents;and a frame inserted into the packaging means for defining a threedimensional shape of the pod, receiving the contents in an inside spaceof the frame, and maintaining the initial shape of the pod, whereinupper and lower portions of the packaging means, which encircle theframe and extend around the frame are joined to each other to therebydefine a side margin.
 2. A pod for packaging contents such as foods,coffee, herbs and the like, which comprises: a packaging means forencircling upper and lower portions of the contents; and a frameinserted into the packaging means encircling the upper and lowerportions of the contents for defining a three dimensional shape of thepod, wherein upper and lower portions of the packaging means whichencircle the frame and extend around the frame, are joined to each otherto thereby define a side margin; and wherein the shape of the frame isany one selected from the followings: circle, oval, equilateral triangleor right triangle including an non-equilateral side, square including aregular square, rectangle, non-equilateral square, and frusto-square,symmetrical and asymmetric pentagon, symmetrical and asymmetric hexagonand heptagon, symmetrical and asymmetric polygon including at leasteight angles, symmetrical and asymmetric pentagonal star shape,symmetrical and asymmetric hexagonal star shape, symmetrical andasymmetric star shape including at least eight angles and the like. 3.The pod according to claim 1, wherein shape of a side cut section of theframe is selected to be any one from the followings: round shapeincluding elliptical shape; several hemispherical shape

,

, triangle

; square, rectangle, trapezoid, square including an asymmetric square(convex parenthesis type [[]], convex parenthesis type [][], and thelike); left and right turned frusto-conical shape; shape including atleast five angles containing asymmetric side; shape similar toupper-case letter ^(λ)E″ and its modified shape (Ψ), (

∈); — modification of [FIG. 3 j] among shapes of Hangeul vowels

and

.
 4. The pod according to claim 1, wherein the pod can be extracted froman opened cavity by means of the frame inserted into two sheets of thepackaging means.
 5. The pod according to claim 1, further comprising afiltering means disposed at upper and lower portions of the frame forpreventing remained residual contents except for the extracted solutionfrom being discharged to the outside at the time of the extraction,wherein the packaging means functions to hermetically seal again theoutside of the frame hermetically sealed by the filtering means so as tofurther protect the contents till they are used, and wherein thefiltering means and the packaging means construct a double packagingstructure with respect to the frame.
 6. The pod according to claim 2,wherein shape of a side cut section of the frame is selected to be anyone from the followings: round shape including elliptical shape; severalhemispherical shape

,

, triangle

; square, rectangle, trapezoid, square including an asymmetric square(convex parenthesis type [[]), convex parenthesis type [][), and thelike); left and right turned frusto-conical shape; shape including atleast five angles containing asymmetric side; shape similar toupper-case letter ^(λ)E″ and its modified shape (Ψ),

∈; — modification of [FIG. 3 j] among shapes of Hangeul vowels

and

.
 7. The pod according to claim 2, wherein the pod can be extracted froman opened cavity by means of the frame inserted into two sheets of thepackaging means.
 8. The pod according to claim 3, wherein the pod can beextracted from an opened cavity by means of the frame inserted into twosheets of the packaging means.
 9. The pod according to claim 2, furthercomprising a filtering means disposed at upper and lower portions of theframe for preventing remained residual contents except for the extractedsolution from being discharged to the outside at the time of theextraction, wherein the packaging means functions to hermetically sealagain the outside of the frame hermetically sealed by the filteringmeans so as to further protect the contents till they are used, andwherein the filtering means and the packaging means construct a doublepackaging structure with respect to the frame.
 10. The pod according toclaim 3, further comprising a filtering means disposed at upper andlower portions of the frame for preventing remained residual contentsexcept for the extracted solution from being discharged to the outsideat the time of the extraction, wherein the packaging means functions tohermetically seal again the outside of the frame hermetically sealed bythe filtering means so as to further protect the contents till they areused, and wherein the filtering means and the packaging means constructa double packaging structure with respect to the frame.